Earnhardt has "had enough" with frustrating year

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit rock bottom during his last trip to Lowe's Motor Speedway.

[Johnson Fan FOREVER]

nascar fans guess what? that #48 has pole.put your money on #48 its a sure win.here we go fixin to make history 4 in a row for all you ford,dodge,toyota fans.out see you after the races.

[alpinedigital]

^^ wasnt even close to the topic. From one fan to another - try to show some professional maturity like the 48 team and keep it real.

To the Dale topic - I'd tell the other teams that they'll get a bonus for every top 10 the 88 gets and a mega bonus for top 5s. Give them incentive to put more effort into helping that 88 team.

I'd stick a setup or an entire car under him and tell him he better learn how to drive it. Paint his frickin numbers day-glow yellow and lean them backwards like the rest of'em! Eliminate every variable that makes him different from the rest of the team.

Then say to him, "We've done everything we can possibly do. We're getting extra input from the 5, 24, and 48 teams. You pit as they pit, and you stay out when they stay out. You'll even eat the same breakfast and take whatever vitamins they do. Now when you put your helmet on, you will be confident that everyone out on the track will respect you as one of them, and they can expect you'll hand them their ass like they do. Your only concern will be to make that car your bitch."

[alpinedigital]

Just look at this pic and tell me which of these cars looks like its not as fast as the others:

http://danspitstopracing.com/yahoo_site_admin...

[jimmy48]

alpinedigital wrote:

Just look at this pic and tell me which of these cars looks like its not as fast as the others:
http://danspitstopracing.com/yahoo_site_admin...

Awesome Pic. Thanks. Those are hot looking cars.

[jimmy48]

Johnson Fan FOREVER wrote:

nascar fans guess what? that #48 has pole.put your money on #48 its a sure win.here we go fixin to make history 4 in a row for all you ford,dodge,toyota fans.out see you after the races.

I already made my bet with sport book. But only for Lowes. If he wins tonight the odds will skyrocket and then I'll do my championship.

[Speaking the truth]

alpinedigital wrote:

^^ wasnt even close to the topic. From one fan to another - try to show some professional maturity like the 48 team and keep it real.
To the Dale topic - I'd tell the other teams that they'll get a bonus for every top 10 the 88 gets and a mega bonus for top 5s. Give them incentive to put more effort into helping that 88 team.
I'd stick a setup or an entire car under him and tell him he better learn how to drive it. Paint his frickin numbers day-glow yellow and lean them backwards like the rest of'em! Eliminate every variable that makes him different from the rest of the team.
Then say to him, "We've done everything we can possibly do. We're getting extra input from the 5, 24, and 48 teams. You pit as they pit, and you stay out when they stay out. You'll even eat the same breakfast and take whatever vitamins they do. Now when you put your helmet on, you will be confident that everyone out on the track will respect you as one of them, and they can expect you'll hand them their ass like they do. Your only concern will be to make that car your bitch."

How old do you think Junior is? You act like he's a freaking toddler. Tell the other teams to "help him win," he's a man for gosh sake, he's supposed to be a professional race car driver. It's not the other team members fault that Junior doesn't focus and put in the effort that it takes to win, why do you want to make his team-mates responsible for his success? You should be telling Junior that it's time for him to grow up and stop whining, it's time for him to get focused and do whatever it takes to make himself a winner, because HE is the only one that can make that happen, he's on the best team and has the best equipment in the game, the ball is in his court and he is the ONLY one to blame if/when he doesn't make it happen.

Another point: you can't "Eliminate every variable that makes him different from the rest of the team." because Junior's lack of focus and questionable driving ability is his own. You can't inject the winning attitude into Junior and you can't force him to focus on racing. That is why his team mates excel, they are focused on winning and they have the winning attitude. How are you going to "give" that to Junior? You can't.

Junior has been racing at the Sprint cup level for 10 years. Although he does whine a lot, he is not a child. You can't make others responsible for him or blame others for his shortcomings. He is what he is, and a championship driver is what he isn't.

The way you talk, NASCAR should start handing out "also ran" participation trophies to Junior so he wouldn't have to feel like the loser he is after every race.

[Speaking the truth]

alpinedigital wrote:

Just look at this pic and tell me which of these cars looks like its not as fast as the others:
http://danspitstopracing.com/yahoo_site_admin...

Just look at this pic and tell me which of these car's drivers don't work at being as fast as the others.

[alpinedigital]

jimmy48 wrote:

<quoted text>I already made my bet with sport book. But only for Lowes. If he wins tonight the odds will skyrocket and then I'll do my championship.

Personally I'm still of the opinion that the hot 5 will be Hendrick, including the 14, and JPM who I really hope hurries to his 1st Oval and any of them could be a bit stronger or have a better a caution/pit situation. I know Johnson has the pitbox but a 2 tire stop always shuffles things up. Lets hope Chad can read everyone's play on pit road and call an audible if he needs to FTW.

I hope Gordon wins, cuzz he needs pts more, and JPM needs his first oval win. I think Stewart is strong but consistancy isnt on his side I don't think.

[alpinedigital]

lol Earnhardt can win if everyone else has troubles though, provided his weak ass pedal leg gets some strength in it.

[JohnnyDeppfan]

alpinedigital wrote:

lol Earnhardt can win if everyone else has troubles though, provided his weak ass pedal leg gets some strength in it.

Jr has shown he can drive through the field and run in the top five. He's just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[What next]

alpinedigital wrote:

^^ wasnt even close to the topic. From one fan to another - try to show some professional maturity like the 48 team and keep it real.
To the Dale topic - I'd tell the other teams that they'll get a bonus for every top 10 the 88 gets and a mega bonus for top 5s. Give them incentive to put more effort into helping that 88 team.
I'd stick a setup or an entire car under him and tell him he better learn how to drive it. Paint his frickin numbers day-glow yellow and lean them backwards like the rest of'em! Eliminate every variable that makes him different from the rest of the team.
Then say to him, "We've done everything we can possibly do. We're getting extra input from the 5, 24, and 48 teams. You pit as they pit, and you stay out when they stay out. You'll even eat the same breakfast and take whatever vitamins they do. Now when you put your helmet on, you will be confident that everyone out on the track will respect you as one of them, and they can expect you'll hand them their ass like they do. Your only concern will be to make that car your bitch."

What next? Will you mandate that NASCAR stop the race at half time and give all the drivers time out while Junior has some milk and cookies and takes a nap on his little red nap-mat? Maybe they can give him a big gold star for participation...or have a smiley face painted on the hood of his car so he'll feel better about himself.

The only way to get pride in yourself and build self-esteem is through personal accomplishment. When Junior starts acting like a man and racing like he means it, he'll gain the confidence of a champion. As long as he sits around moping and feeling sorry for himself, he will continue to be a loser.

[jimmy48]

alpinedigital wrote:

<quoted text>
Personally I'm still of the opinion that the hot 5 will be Hendrick, including the 14, and JPM who I really hope hurries to his 1st Oval and any of them could be a bit stronger or have a better a caution/pit situation. I know Johnson has the pitbox but a 2 tire stop always shuffles things up. Lets hope Chad can read everyone's play on pit road and call an audible if he needs to FTW.
I hope Gordon wins, cuzz he needs pts more, and JPM needs his first oval win. I think Stewart is strong but consistancy isnt on his side I don't think.

See what I'll do is hedge and take smaller bets on Mark and possibly JPM and Tony. Depends on where everyone stands after tonights race. I too would like to see JG get a win just not tonight tho. And yes Chad is going to have to be on top of his crew and no mistakes or bad calls.

[alpinedigital]

Speaking the truth wrote:

<quoted text>
How old do you think Junior is... bla bla bla

My suggestion isn't an effort to give him the help a child needs. A person who's had victories and ends up in a slump isn't going to benefit from being treated like a child anyway. He doesn't need to grow up or anything like that. Its also not a matter of being professional and having a professional attitude. If it was that simple, it would be easy to man up, do his job, accept failures put'em behind him and keep his head up.

"Do whatever it takes to make him a winner" is easier said than done even if you're NOT in a slump.

"Junior's lack of focus and questionable driving ability" is not a variable I suggest THEY change. I'm actually having a hard time figuring out how the hell you even went there.

Nobody is trying to make anyone responsible or placing blame. The fact is everyone is trying to figure out what the key, or keys are that the team is missing. Giving incentive for helping find these keys is all Im suggesting from the 5, 24, and 48 teams.

It seems you'd rather him fail and put blame on him/his team than to try any and all efforts to help this team which is what they're supposed to be doing anyway. He's not a contender for the championship so it's not a big risk to help him better his efforts.

Anyway, paint his #s properly and give him rides with setups like Martin has - he's been about as strong as the 48. Tell Jr everything is the same so all he needs to do is put his game face on and get it done. If they don't try to eliminate every possible variable, there's always going to be second gusssing and questioning the idea that it may NOT have been his fault. THAT is what he needs... to know for a fact that it's HIS fault. That its his performance, his focus, his effort that brings him the finish he gets. He cant say the car went away or did this or that - he'll have the same stuff Martin has. He cant blame a pit call, he'll do the same stuff the 5 team does. Logically, if he can drive, he should be right there with the 5 most of the race.

[alpinedigital]

What next wrote:

<quoted text>

The only way to get pride in yourself and build self-esteem is through personal accomplishment. When Junior starts acting like a man and racing like he means it, he'll gain the confidence of a champion. As long as he sits around moping and feeling sorry for himself, he will continue to be a loser.

I agree with that. But as everyone is wondering if he needs a different crew chief, if he lost due to pit strategy putting him in the wrong place, or whether its a matter of some other variable among thousands of others, it's difficult to truly believe it was all his duing and not just a string of bad luck, a curse, a conspiracy, superstition, its all in his head, the cars are sabotaged, the others are cheating... all these excuses need to be eliminated or he'll lose concentration and focus wondering how he can beat each of them. He needs to have zero excuses - no 'they added wedge and we didnt' or any other specific reason for him to blame his failures on.

[The problem]

alpinedigital wrote:

Anyway, paint his #s properly and give him rides with setups like Martin has - he's been about as strong as the 48. Tell Jr everything is the same so all he needs to do is put his game face on and get it done. If they don't try to eliminate every possible variable, there's always going to be second gusssing and questioning the idea that it may NOT have been his fault. THAT is what he needs... to know for a fact that it's HIS fault. That its his performance, his focus, his effort that brings him the finish he gets. He cant say the car went away or did this or that - he'll have the same stuff Martin has. He cant blame a pit call, he'll do the same stuff the 5 team does. Logically, if he can drive, he should be right there with the 5 most of the race.

That's just it, he already DOES have the same equipment the others have, the reason he doesn't consistently finish the way the others do is because he doesn't have the attitude and the endurance the others have. He's not putting the same focus and effort in that the others do, it's a full time job that requires a great deal of dedication on and off the track. The others aren't out partying all the time, which keeps their mental focus clear. The others are at the gym keeping fit and building their endurance so that they have what it takes, physically, to get through the race. They don't just blow it all off Monday thru Thursday then show up at the track expecting to perform well under race conditions for 500 laps. The problems Junior has can't be fixed until Junior changes his attitude, his focus and his lifestyle. That's not the team's responsibility, it's all up to Junior.

And, painting his numbers in yellow or changing the slant ain't gonna chance the way Junior drives. You're really grasping at straws if you think the paint job on the car is what makes the driver a champion. If you think the way the number is painted is the problem, wouldn't it only be fair to paint a number 5 on his roof, surely then he would drive like Mark. Maybe a 5 on the roof, a 24 on the driver door and a 48 on the passenger door, that way he'll have all the markings of a great driver...and, by default, he will become a great driver. Just maybe the 88 is a curse. I can't figure out how you think the numbers make any difference at all, but I guess that's all you have to cling to since the driver behind the wheel continues to be a big disappointment race after race.

[What next]

alpinedigital wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with that. But as everyone is wondering if he needs a different crew chief, if he lost due to pit strategy putting him in the wrong place, or whether its a matter of some other variable among thousands of others, it's difficult to truly believe it was all his duing and not just a string of bad luck, a curse, a conspiracy, superstition, its all in his head, the cars are sabotaged, the others are cheating... all these excuses need to be eliminated or he'll lose concentration and focus wondering how he can beat each of them. He needs to have zero excuses - no 'they added wedge and we didnt' or any other specific reason for him to blame his failures on.

Seems to me that he already has zero excuses.
They changed his owner,
they changed his car,
they changed his number,
they changed his sponsors,
they put him on the winningest team,
they changed his crew chief,
AND YET...
He continues to have poor finishes.
So the only thing left to consider is the
COMMON DENOMINATOR...
That is Junior...
It's time to change the driver.

[JohnnyDeppfan]

What next wrote:

<quoted text>
Seems to me that he already has zero excuses.
They changed his owner,
they changed his car,
they changed his number,
they changed his sponsors,
they put him on the winningest team,
they changed his crew chief,
AND YET...
He continues to have poor finishes.
So the only thing left to consider is the
COMMON DENOMINATOR...
That is Junior...
It's time to change the driver.

So is it time to change the driver of the 29? Because we all know Harvick hasn't had such a great season either, yet he is a very capable driver, same as Jr.

[Community Disorganizer]

Earnhardt has "had enough" with frustrating year:

Race fans have had enough of Ralphie Earnhardt and Jr Nation.

[What next]

JohnnyDeppfan wrote:

<quoted text>
So is it time to change the driver of the 29? Because we all know Harvick hasn't had such a great season either, yet he is a very capable driver, same as Jr.

Difference is, the 29 driver isn't out there whining about how he can't drive good because his teammates aren't holding his hand and helping him to compete against them. The 29 driver is trying to figure out what HE's doing wrong (not how he can shift the focus to someone else) and what HE can do to improve HIS skills. Junior is still sitting back waiting for someone else to fix the problem and make it all better for him.

Before you make your typical blanket statement that Junior isn't trying to blame someone else, read the article. He's quoted as saying that he did better with Eury Sr on the box (so we are to conclude that the problem is still the crew chief rather than the driver) and he also said that he's just waiting for Rick to change things up so that he will magically become a winning driver. No indication that he's stepping up to the plate to make improvements himself, but rather an attitude that clearly says,
"I have whined now it shall be done." but only Rick can make it happen because it should be clear by now that he's sure not going to bust his hump to make it happen.

[alpinedigital]

What next wrote:

<quoted text>
Seems to me that he already has zero excuses.
They changed his owner,
they changed his car,
they changed his number,
they changed his sponsors,
they put him on the winningest team,
they changed his crew chief,
AND YET...
He continues to have poor finishes.
So the only thing left to consider is the
COMMON DENOMINATOR...
That is Junior...
It's time to change the driver.

That's a really nice list. But you're talking about a driver who's at a loss for what's missing. You have to do better than that. Everyone knows Jr's head is messed up. I'm not suggesting otherwise. Alls Im saying is he needs to be convinced and he has to believe. He's lost faith in everything, and he's barely clinging to a hope for change. You can talk all the crap about him you want, hell I wont even argue it. But you're discussing how to accept failure and Im suggesting how to fix it.